Surviving Recovery Part III: Handling Conflict

This section discusses handling conflict with self and others, and helps the group to troubleshoot when they come face to face with it in roleplay.

Success in recovery depends on the ability to keep cool when conflicts arise--like when a part of us wants to use, or when someone else pushes our buttons. The group learns different ways in which inner turmoil may emerge, and is encouraged to remember that inner turmoil is a human condition not unique to recovering addicts. Berryman introduces the group to the idea of "maps"--ways of thinking of ourselves, of others, and of the world--and talks about how these maps play into issues of relapse and can work as triggers. When maps collide, when your views do not match another's, conflict arises....a perfect time for relapse. The group finds that conflict is inevitable, and that knowing this is half the battle.